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May 30, 2015

Germany - Wooing India for Subs and fighters

Lobbying for the Submarine acquisition programme under P-75I of
Indian Navy has begun in a serious note with the visit of German Defence
Minister Ursula von der Leyen to New Delhi and Mumbai from 26th to 28th
May, 2015. The RFP under the P-75I programme for acquisition of six
submarines was released in October last, after years of deliberations
in the MOD. The German defence minister had extensive interaction with
the Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and later the Prime
Minister Narendra Modi on the issue of defence and security cooperation.
Her visit will be followed by the visit of German Chancellor Angela
Merkel in October during which the Chancellor is also expected to raise
the issue of acquiring Submarines from Germany. India has already
acquired four HDW submarines, two and half decades ago and is working
perfectly according to navy sources. During the later eighties the
Indian navy was provided the two Type-209 HDW submarines in running
condition and two were assembled later in the Mazhgaon dockyard. There
was option of assembling two more, but the German HDW also met the fate
of the Swedish Bofors and cancelled the option of manufacturing two
more in Indian shipyard. There were allegations of illicit transaction
against the HDW and the then government in late eighties cancelled the
execution of the rest of the deal. There were talks of seven percent
kickbacks in Rs 420 crore deal for four HDW submarines and the company
was blacklisted by Indian government. Later the German company got the
reprieve from the Delhi High Court and is now once again free to join
the race for six submarines under the P-75-I programme.

The official release issued by the Ministry of Defence spokesman
on the Indo German talks has given a scant idea of the conversations but
sources said that the two sides discussed the Indian plan to
domestically manufacture six advanced submarines with foreign
collaboration in an Indian shipyard under the Make in India plan. The
German defence minister Ms Ursula referred to the Make in India plan and
offered to support this initiative in the field of submarines. She
described the two countries as natural partners. Interestingly under
the Make In India plan the Ms Ursula also proposed the manufacture of
European Fighter in India in collaboration with any Indian partner.
Since the mission MMRCA ( Multi Role Medium Combat Aircraft ) is only
partially accomplished with only 36 of the 126 aircrafts ordered from
France, Germany has offered India to transfer of technology and knowhow
to make the Typhoons in India. Indian Air Forc e is in the dire need of
acquiring around ten fighter squadrons and will have soon to make a
choice.
Regarding Submarines, it will not be easy for Indian MOD to take
decision in favor of the Germans as there are others also in fray
including the Russian Amur, the Spanish Navantia, the French DCN and
even the Japanese Soryu submarine manufacturer may also be asked to join
the race.
Sources said that Indian Shipyard Mazhgaon dock had gained good
experience of assembling the German submarines, but this time the
government is seriously considering the issue of utilizing the private
sector shipyards. The Government to Government route adopted for
acquiring the French Rafales may also be considered as the Indian navy
submarine strength has gone down at precarious low level and needs
urgent augmentation of the fleet. The diesel submarine strength has come
down to 13 and one nuclear powered Submarine INS Chakra is on a ten
year lease. Another Indian nuclear powered submarine is under sea trial
and may join the Indian Navy by the end of the year.
According to sources the Germans have offered their most advanced,
recently out of the design table, the Type- 216 submarines to India.
The basic design of this submarine is based on Type-214, which is
double hulled with two decks and includes a fuel cell, Permasyn motor
and Lithium ion batteries. This submarine is also equipped with Air
Independent Propulsion technology, which the Indian navy wants to have
in all its future diesel submarines.

The Submarine has a displacement of 4000 tonnes and has a range of
19,300 kms at 10 knots while its maximum speed is 20 knots. It has
endurance of 80 days and has 6 x 21 torpedo tubes and can accommodate 18
torpedoes or anti-ship missiles. The sub has vertical launch system.
Since this design is not yet proven, the Indian Navy may ask for Type –
214 submarines.
After hardselling the German military hardware in New Delhi during
meeting with the top political brass in New Delhi the German defence
minister flew in to Mumbai where she visited Western Naval Command
Headquarters and met the Flag Officer Commanding in Chief Vice Admiral
S.P.Singh Cheema and also visited the Indian Naval Ship Mumbai.
Trying to show the closeness between India and Germany on Security
issues Mr Ursula had said, while addressing a meeting of Observer
Research Foundation in New Delhi, “ Prime Minister Modi made the case
for international enterprises to set up shops in India and for closer
collaboration with the German economy,. But our focus today is not only
on economic collaboration _ today it is also in security policy.
Later commenting on German Defence Minister’s visit to India, the
German Ambassador Michael Steiner said,” Her visit was a further boost
for our strategic partnership at all levels. In October Chancellor
Angela Merkel will visit India for the next round of intergovernmental
consultations.” The Germans are expected one again to push the case for
German Subs and fighters to be made in India in late October.